Advocates from across the region have formally petitioned the President of India, the Chief Justice of India and the Union Law Minister, seeking the elevation of Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia to the Supreme Court. The representation has already been emailed to the constitutional authorities, with a signature campaign continuing to obtain further endorsements from members of the Bar.Describing him as one of the country’s foremost “jurists” and the third senior-most judge in the country, the lawyers have urged the constitutional authorities to accord due consideration to his candidature on the strength of his judicial record, constitutional scholarship, administrative leadership, integrity and seniority.The representation also points out that, if elevated, Justice Sandhawalia would become the first Sikh judge of the Supreme Court in nearly a decade, while emphasising that merit — not community identity — remains the sole basis of the plea.Members of the Bar practising before courts and tribunals, led by advocates AS Qaumi and SS Kundhali, have asserted that the representation has been made neither for political considerations nor personal interest, but in the larger institutional interest of strengthening the Supreme Court by ensuring that appointments continue to reflect the highest standards of judicial excellence, constitutional commitment, independence and integrity. It says every appointment to the apex court is of immense constitutional significance and should be guided by proven merit and distinguished service.Tracing Justice Sandhawalia’s professional journey, the lawyers state that he enrolled as an advocate in August 1989 before building an extensive practice in civil, criminal, constitutional, service and land acquisition matters. Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 30, 2011, and confirmed as a Permanent Judge on January 24, 2014, he later served as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court from February 4 to July 8, 2024, before assuming office as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. During his judicial tenure, he has authored numerous significant judgments while earning a reputation for fairness, judicial discipline, constitutional sensitivity and administrative competence.The representation describes Justice Sandhawalia as and the senior-most judge from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It cites several landmark decisions authored by him, including those declaring Section 100-A of the Haryana Land Acquisition Act unconstitutional, striking down the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, which mandated 75 per cent reservation in specified private-sector employment for local candidates, holding that there is no statutory bar to grant of anticipatory bail to juveniles, and affirming the High Court’s primacy in promotions from the cadre of Chief Judicial Magistrates to the Higher Judicial Service—a principle subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.Referring to his administrative credentials, the lawyers state that Justice Sandhawalia’s administration has been marked by institutional reforms and efficient court management. They point out that the Himachal Pradesh High Court, despite functioning with only 12 judges against a sanctioned strength of 17, recorded a case clearance rate of 89.99 per cent in 2025. They also cite initiatives undertaken under his leadership, including declaring 12 Saturdays in 2026 as working days exclusively for hearing the oldest pending cases, prescribing disposal targets for the district judiciary, filling judicial vacancies, creating additional courts and expanding judicial infrastructure, resulting in the district judiciary achieving a case clearance rate of more than 106 per cent.The representation further states that Justice Sandhawalia’s selection as one of the three members of the in-house inquiry committee constituted to examine allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma reflected the confidence reposed in his independence, fairness, objectivity and judicial temperament. It adds that his elevation would not merely recognise individual merit but strengthen the Supreme Court by bringing to it a judge possessing wide-ranging judicial experience, constitutional vision and proven administrative ability.Asserting that Justice Sandhawalia would become the first Sikh judge in the Supreme Court in nearly a decade if elevated, the representation — at the same time — clarifies that diversity is cited only as an incidental consideration where it converges with exceptional merit, and not as an independent basis for appointment. It concludes by urging the constitutional authorities to give earnest and favourable consideration to his candidature in accordance with the constitutional scheme governing appointments to the higher judiciary.